Strange horse!!

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Flowerofthefen

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I have had my tb for 7 years now, and every year it's the same, as soon as the weather starts to change he becomes a total tit when he sees me arrive to bring him in! He has a field full of lovely green grass, probably not as tasty as it has been but still there is plenty. I don't know how to stop him? He gallops round. Then when the weather changes again in October he will have to come in at lunch so he doesn't try and injure himself, something to look forward to! He just loves his stable. Any ideas how to settle him when he sees me? I have to fetch him straight away as he will just run round until I get him. It would be lovely to stop him before he starts!
 
Red-1 said:
Rigs is the same. In summer he's happy out for 12 hours or more. In winter he's keen to get in after 4 hours or so.

I just fetch him in. Not worth fighting him.
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Luckily he has been fine out 24/7 for the last month or so so I've had a bit of a break from mucking out. He's out now for about 12 hours a day. 4 hours in winter is about as much as mine will tolerate. I thought it would be at least October until he started demanding coming in!!
 
YourValentine said:
Is he hungry or cold? The grass might not be filling his tummy anymore.
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He shouldn't be either but looking at the forecast tomorrow he will ne going out in a 50g rug. There looks to be loads of grass in the field but perhaps it's not as filling as it was. Will pop some hay out, but chances are he will eat that in the morning and still demand to come in!
 
Orbi wanted in this morning because it was dark, he had been running the fence line, I also don't want him getting hurt, he loves being in and he loves a lay down in the stable, so I will be happy if he goes out at 5 am and back in at 2.

@Flowerofthefen would he settle if you gave him a little bucket of carrots or fruit or nuts? Just might buy you enough time
 
I've had 2 who did this, Welsh and Arab, I solved it with both.

With the Welsh I just did what you know you should do, stood near the gate and waited until he stopped and was still before bringing him in. It took probably 40 mins the first few days until he cottoned on and then he got better much quicker. Within a fortnight he would steadily walk to the gate no matter where he was in the field.

The Arab was more of a worry, it was a different set up and she was more extravagant and I was too worried she'd hurt herself. She was clicker trained so I tried a few things, put a rubber mat in the field and made her stand on it after catching before I brought in, that type of thing. The winner was putting her target (bucket lid) on the fence near the gate, she was already trained to stand touching it until she got a treat so she got it faster . Result was a horse who'd come full belt over the field and slide to stop at the target and wait for me.

Neither method feels great when you're waiting for them to figure it out. The first method is definitely better but it's a worry and if you give in you've just taught them to act up even more.

Obviously better if you can figure out why he's so keen to be in - food, warmth, friends. Good luck with it.
 
two of mine get like that when the weather starts getting colder, grass is less tasty and it starts getting darker early. We’re still ok on 24/7 turnout at the moment but I suspect by mid October they will be pratting around at the gate at 4pm wanting in.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Why can't you just get them in when you get there if that's what they want to do, I don't understand making them stress and worry at the gate once they have seen you.

Or am I missing something here?
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It's dangerous behaviour and often starts the second they see your car. By the time you've sprinted to grab your head collars they've already slid into a fence or kicked someone or just torn the ground up.

I think it's normal for a horse to come over at speed when you arrive but galloping around the field like a loon is unsafe.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Why can't you just get them in when you get there if that's what they want to do, I don't understand making them stress and worry at the gate once they have seen you.

Or am I missing something here?
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Missing something... I dont make him wait. He kicks off when he sees my car. It's the time between seeing my car and me getting to the field that's a worry.
 
Jambarissa said:
It's dangerous behaviour and often starts the second they see your car. By the time you've sprinted to grab your head collars they've already slid into a fence or kicked someone or just torn the ground up.

I think it's normal for a horse to come over at speed when you arrive but galloping around the field like a loon is unsafe.
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Yes it is dangerous I see the horses do it next door on the livery yard.

I know with them it's food because they are out there in winter some at 5.30am until after 6pm so the poor sods are starving.

I think its mainly because yards don't allow hay in the fields so they get desperate to come in.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Yes it is dangerous I see the horses do it next door on the livery yard.

I know with them it's food because they are out there in winter some at 5.30am until after 6pm so the poor sods are starving.

I think its mainly because yards don't allow hay in the fields so they get desperate to come in.
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It's very dangerous and very scary. I had never seen a horse do it before getting this one. He was a NH horse so not out in field in winter and I guess rationed on the food side to keep him in tip top condition. He is funny about having no hay left so he always has ad lib hay, in or out. I just thought the grass looked great and there's plenty of it. Obviously he still wants more!
 
Flowerofthefen said:
It's very dangerous and very scary. I had never seen a horse do it before getting this one. He was a NH horse so not out in field in winter and I guess rationed on the food side to keep him in tip top condition. He is funny about having no hay left so he always has ad lib hay, in or out. I just thought the grass looked great and there's plenty of it. Obviously he still wants more!
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My Arab's have run to the gate a few evenings and mornings as they are still out, mine get hay in the field but I have increased it as they are obviously wanting more.

The temperature has really dropped here so the nutritional value of grass goes down I suppose.
 
Just wondering now if he touched the electric fence last night, it runs off mains?! He usually gets bad in the field towards the end of October, not this early on! I parked out of sight tonight, couldn't find my bacon costume so no disguise, he looked up at me and carried on eating! It's been wet and windy here most of the day, a good excuse to kick off! Fingers crossed he touched the fence last night!
 
Polly gets like this at bring in time about 1-2 days a week for no apparent reason. She is manic- galloping, tearing up the field, rearing up… and anyone turned out with her joins in.
It happens more so in windy weather or when her field is getting a bit more ‘bare’ (never bare here, but you know what I mean)
But she also does it randomly in the daytime too, nowhere near bring in time.
Shes got a dodgy switch in her brain I think 🤣
 
scats said:
Polly gets like this at bring in time about 1-2 days a week for no apparent reason. She is manic- galloping, tearing up the field, rearing up… and anyone turned out with her joins in.
It happens more so in windy weather or when her field is getting a bit more ‘bare’ (never bare here, but you know what I mean)
But she also does it randomly in the daytime too, nowhere near bring in time.
Shes got a dodgy switch in her brain I think 🤣
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Welsh or part Welsh by any chance? My Welsh mare will go off and do a random gymnastic display all by herself in the field, the pirouettes, the twirls, the leaps are all very spectacular. It's never at any set time, she's calm for turning out and coming in, she just obviously needs to dance and let off steam. A friend used to have a Welsh mare that did it too. Something in the breed I think.
 
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